2027 Best Industrial Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
Industrial Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their industrial engineering programs.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best industrial engineering schools.
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Best Schools for Industrial Engineering in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall industrial engineering education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Industrial Engineering
No school ranked higher than University Of Minnesota Twin Cities this year for industrial engineering. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 84 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $73,777. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $22,802 in student loans.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Iowa State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in industrial engineering, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Iowa State University awarded about 83 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $94,216 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at Iowa State University
University Of Missouri Columbia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in industrial engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 38 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from University Of Missouri Columbia earn around $79,894 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $26,512 in student loans.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at University Of Missouri Columbia
A rank of #4 makes University Of Central Missouri one of the top schools for industrial engineering. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Central Missouri awarded about 43 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from University Of Central Missouri earn around $45,496 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,304 to complete this degree.
See the full industrial engineering program report for University Of Central Missouri
Students looking for a strong industrial engineering program will find one at University Of Iowa, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 34 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Industrial Engineering graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $75,699 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,540 to complete this degree.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at University Of Iowa
Kansas State University came in at #6 for industrial engineering this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Kansas State University graduates 71% of students within six years. About 46 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $77,724. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full industrial engineering program report for Kansas State University
Fort Hays State University landed the #7 spot for industrial engineering this year. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. About 46% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at Fort Hays State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from Fort Hays State University earn around $49,775 in the first couple years of their career. Fort Hays State University graduates carry a median of $25,967 in student loans.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at Fort Hays State University
University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #8 spot for industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, industrial engineering degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $77,781. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $24,185 in student loans.
More information about a degree in industrial engineering from University Of Minnesota Duluth
Wichita State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best industrial engineering schools. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 126 industrial engineering degrees were awarded at Wichita State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $49,278 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete this degree.
Read more about the industrial engineering program at Wichita State University
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Dakota State University Main Campus awarded about 32 industrial engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their industrial engineering degree from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn around $68,873 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full industrial engineering details for North Dakota State University Main Campus
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology landed the #11 spot for industrial engineering this year. Set in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 industrial engineering students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the industrial engineering program make about $70,216 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full industrial engineering program report for South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 11 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.